During the pandemic, we’ve received an increased number of enquiries from people wanting to buy or sell businesses and this shows no sign of letting up in the near future.
A recent article by PWC states “The conditions for Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activity appear well aligned: many businesses have a strategic need to consolidate, divest non-core businesses, or quickly acquire new capabilities and skills. And there is plenty of money available to fund deals.”
This is supported by the latest Merger and Acquisition (M&A) figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), showing an overall increase in 2021.
If you are considering buying or selling a business, or planning on doing so in the coming years and want to ensure you are properly prepared, there are some key things you can do to ensure that:
- If selling – that you maximise the value, ensure that the people aspects are handled sensitively and ensure the smooth sale of your business.
- If buying – that you get the best possible price (value) and conduct suitable due diligence so there are no ‘nasty’ surprises.
Many points overlap when selling a business or buying; you both want the transaction to complete smoothly, so having a robust and thorough approach, with conscientious and thorough paperwork, financial data, due diligence and open and clear communication, benefits all parties.
We have produced a useful guide which covers some of the key considerations for those buying or selling a business:
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If you are considering buying or selling a business, we recommend you speak to a professional adviser at the earliest opportunity. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.